"Fourteen people were killed and more than 50 others wounded by mortars launched by the terrorists on several areas of Idlib city," said the state channel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack, but gave a higher toll of 15 civilians, and said an unknown number of children were among the dead.

Fresh air strikes were launched on Monday in the province, according to activists who have reported an escalation of violence in the area, which is important because it borders Turkey.

Most of Idlib province is in militant groups’ control, though the provincial capital is still firmly in government troops’ hands.

Elsewhere in Syria, the Observatory said fierce clashes raged in Albu Kamal, on the Iraq border, pitting the ISIL terrorists against local militants allied to the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, a day after the terrorist group of ISIL announced the establishment of faked "caliphate".

Fighting has raged in Albu Kamal for several days. The town is strategic because it lies on the border with Iraq, where ISIL has spearheaded an offensive that has seen several areas in northern and western Iraq fall from government control.